The NAACP’s Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics (ACT-SO) is a yearlong achievement program designed to recruit, stimulate, and encourage high academic and cultural achievement among African-American high school students.

ACT-SO includes 33 competitions in STEM, humanities, business, and performing, visual and culinary arts. Almost 300,000 young people have participated from the program since its inception.

For over thirty-five years the mission of ACT-SO has been to prepare, recognize and reward youth of African descent who exemplify scholastic and artistic excellence. Learn more about ACT-SO.

ACT-SO Mission

The goals of ACT-SO are:

• To mobilize the adult community for the promotion of academic and artistic excellence.
• To recognize creative talent and academic achievement.
• To provide and assist students with the necessary skills to establish goals and acquire the confidence and training to make a successful contribution to society.